Insecticides "Kill Bugs Dead." But What Do They Do To Your Kids?

My young son and I moved into our new house about three years ago and we love it. But for two summers now, we have been besieged by ants in the kitchen. I tried using bait traps (as well as a few other non-toxic tricks) but when I found a small village of dead ants sweetly drowning inside the jar of marshmallow cream, I reluctantly turned to the big guns and used a commercial ant-killing spray indoors and out. I followed instructions and took precautions, but I’m left wondering what the potential health risks are to my son and what I can do differently this year to solve the problem without chemicals.

Source: Me
Somehow the phrases "KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN" and
"For Use in Kitchens, Pantries & Food Preparation Areas" don't seem like they belong together...

Unique Vulnerability of Children

It probably comes as no surprise that insecticides are inherently toxic; after all, their intent is to kill living organisms. But did you know that children are particularly vulnerable to negative health effects from insecticides and other pesticides such as herbicides, rodenticides, and fungicides? According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), children are at a heightened risk due to physiological and behavioral reasons:

• Children’s still-developing nervous, immune, and digestive systems are less able to detoxify and excrete pollutants compared to adults.
• Children breathe in more air than adults and inhale almost twice as many pollutants.
• Children spend more time outdoors on grass, playing fields, and play equipment where pesticides may be present.
• Children crawl on the floor and have full body contact with pesticide residues on carpets.
• Children’s hand-to-mouth contact is more frequent, exposing them to toxins through ingestion.

Source: morgueFile

Exposures

As the previous section suggests, pesticides enter children’s bodies through skin absorption, inhalation, ingestion, and through the eyes. The most common way that children get pesticides in their bodies is absorption through the skin. Foggers, bug bombs, and aerosols are the most likely to be inhaled since the particles are so small; they also leave residues on carpet, furniture, toys, and other household items. Traces of insecticides can remain on surfaces in the home for weeks, months, or even years. And even if you don't use these chemicals yourself, pesticides can drift far from where they are sprayed and often miss their intended mark. 

In addition to home and garden use, keep in mind that children may also be exposed to insecticides at other places and in other ways, like through food, at schools and playgrounds, and on pets.

Food

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) asserts that for some children, diet may be the most influential source of exposure to insecticides. They cite an intervention study demonstrating that children who switched from a conventional to an organic diet had a “drastic and immediate decrease in urinary excretion of pesticide metabolites.” In other words, kids who eat an organic diet have less evidence of insecticides in their urine.

According to an Environmental Working Group (EWG) report, nine out of ten American children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years are exposed to combinations of 13 different neurotoxic insecticides in the food they eat. Many of these insecticides are potentially neurotoxic and have been linked with a variety of childhood diseases.

Source: Wall Street Journal via USDA

Schools

Insecticides are commonly used inside schools to control ants and cockroaches in cafeterias, classrooms, and offices. There have been quite a few documented cases of children and school workers being sickened by insecticide treatments; one West Virginia school was even forced to close and undergo extensive remodeling in 1989 after federal investigators found concentrations of a now-banned insecticide at eleven times higher than the safe level. The non-profit environmental group Beyond Pesticides reports that of the 40 commonly used pesticides used in schools, 28 may cause cancer, 26 have reproductive effects, 26 damage the nervous system, and 13 can cause birth defects. 

Playgrounds

Most potential playground pesticide exposures come from herbicides (weed-killers) used on grassy areas. But did you know that the majority of wooden play structures, decks, fences, and picnic tables are treated with an insecticide? Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) is a chemical wood preservative and termite preventative containing chromium, copper, and arsenic. Though greatly restricted since 2003, CCA was in wide use for many years beginning in the 1970s.

Arsenic is a known human carcinogen and is acutely toxic at certain levels. CCA can be ingested or absorbed through the skin. The EPA recommends that children should always wash hands after contact with treated wood and ensure that food does not come into direct contact with any treated wood. The Consumer Product Safety Commission takes it a step further and recommends that children should not eat at all on a playground where CCA chemicals are present or play underneath structures, as CCA leaches from the wood into the ground beneath and is easily transferred to the mouth.

Research is limited, but data suggest that a child’s exposure when playing on or near CCA-treated lumber may exceed safe levels. So how do you know if the wood at the playground or the deck at your home is treated with CCA? Chances are, if it was built before 2004 and is not made of cedar or redwood, it contains CCA; so be sure to use caution when picnicking!

Source: Harbor Light News

Pets

Pets are another common route of insecticide exposure for children. Many products used for controlling fleas and ticks, including flea collars, shampoos, soaps, sprays, and powders include dangerous insecticides. Some of these insecticides work by leaving chemical residues on a pet’s fur; chemicals are easily transferred to humans through petting, or touching contaminated bedding. One Minnesota study found that 50% of households with pets used these types of products.

If you think “they wouldn’t sell it if it wasn’t safe,” think again. For example, the EPA has known for decades that the carbamate insecticide “propoxur” is harmful to humans. Yet it is still widely available in flea collars. Through a voluntary agreement, the manufacturers have agreed to stop production of these flea collars, though they will remain on store shelves until sold out.

Oh, and another thing? These treatments aren't always so great for pets either. Read the EPA's analysis here.

Classes of Insecticides

There are many classes of insecticides; the American Academy of Pediatrics has identified the six categories as the most dangerous for children’s health. These can be found in many popular household, lawn & garden, head lice, and flea control products:

• Organophosphates 
• Carbamates
• Pyrethroids/pyrethrins 
• Organochlorines
• Neonicotinoids 
• N-phenylpyrazoles (commonly called Fipronil)

Exposures to these types of insecticides are linked to both acute (sudden onset) and chronic (long term) health effects in children. 

Acute Health Effects

Surprisingly, there is limited data regarding insecticide use and acute health effects. The United States has no national tracking system for consumer or professional use, and data systems for poison control centers often have incomplete or inadequate information. Below is what we do know from hospital and poison control reports.

Source:American Academy of Pediatrics

Chronic Health Effects

Like most health effects due to environmental factors, long-term effects from insecticide use can be more difficult to evaluate. However, a number of animal and epidemiological studies have identified problems including adverse birth outcomes, pediatric cancers, neurobehavioral and cognitive deficits, and others. The relationships between insecticides, pediatric cancer, and adverse neurodevelopment are particularly strong. 


Brain Tumors

• Many studies report a relationship between pesticide use and brain tumors in children, with most exposures coming from home, garden, and pet usage. In addition to a child's direct exposure, a parent's occupational exposures before the child's birth was also associated with with childhood brain cancer.

Leukemia

• Other studies showed a link between leukemia and pesticide use. Like the case above, household and parental occupational exposures were common. A 1987 National Cancer Institute study reported that the risk of childhood leukemia increased nearly four times when pesticides were used within the house at least once per week, and increased more than six times when garden pesticides were used at least once a month (though type of pesticide was not specified).

Lymphoma

• A Denver-area study found that children with lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system) were twice as likely to have been exposed to insecticides during household exterminations compared to healthy children.

Birth Defects and Other Adverse Birth Outcomes

• Though evidence is limited and sometimes conflicting, the AAP reports that insecticides are linked with many types of birth defects including cleft palate, limb anomalies, neural tube defects (birth defects of the brain and spine), premature birth, and fetal death. 

Endocrine Effects

• Some organochlorine insecticides and other pesticides are thought to have adverse effects on the endocrine system. Researchers have linked exposures to early puberty, cryptorchidism (undescended testicles), hypospadias (opening of urethra on the underside of the penis), and polythelia (supernumerary nipples).

Neurodevelopmental Effects

As previously mentioned, many insecticides work by poisoning the nervous systems of their target organisms. So it should come as no surprise that these nerve toxins also affect humans. Though the research into how chronic, low level exposures before and after birth affect children’s health is somewhat limited, there is a growing body of evidence to suggest the effects are significant. In particular, organochlorine and organophosphate insecticides are implicated in the following neurodevelopmental disorders:

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A Harvard study found that children with high levels of organophosphates measured in their urine were more likely to have ADHD.
• Autism: One study found that mothers of children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were twice as likely to have used a pet shampoo for flea and tick prevention; the highest risk was for mothers who used the shampoo during the second trimester of pregnancy. Another study reports that organophosphate insecticide exposures double the risk of developmental disorders. A California study found that 28% of mothers who lived near fields sprayed with organochlorines have children with autism.
• Lowered mental and motor development
• Reduced IQ

The reasons why these chemicals significantly affect some children and not others are also being studied. Research is focusing on how genetic variables may play a role in how individuals metabolize toxins like organophosphates.

Alternatives to Conventional Insecticides

Pretty much everyone agrees that prevention is the best method for insect control. Removing food sources, sealing cracks and crevices, and removing trash quickly are a few ways to control insect infestations. But despite your best intentions, sometimes unwanted bugs get in. Here are some alternatives that are lower in toxicity than conventional insecticides:

• Boric acid: this is a low-toxicity mineral but can still pose health hazards and should be used with care. Boric acid should not be used near children or animals, but it can be used in cracks and crevices, behind refrigerators and counters, and in other places where it will not be in direct contact. Boric acid takes longer to work than chemical insecticides but is highly effective over time.
• Botanical sprays include Mint Oil, Cedar Oil, Orange Oil
• Cayenne pepper
• Desiccating dusts such as diatomaceous earth and pure amorphous silica aerogel: these products kill insects by causing them to dehydrate and die. Again, while these are among the least toxic insecticides, they are not without risk. Wear a dust mask and keep it away from children and pets.
• Sticky traps

Source: The National

Still have questions? Check the Beyond Pesticides website for a comprehensive, bug-specific list of best products and practices.

Other Simple Strategies

• Eat organic produce if possible (especially if you are pregnant).
• Wash your produce thoroughly to reduce pesticide contamination.
• Make sure your children wash their hands after playing anywhere pesticides might be present.
• Seek out non-toxic alternatives for head lice treatments and flea infestations.
• Ask your school what their policy is on pesticide use.
• If you do use insecticides, protect yourself with a mask, gloves, and goggles.

Final Thoughts

In the 1940s, DDT-infused wallpaper featuring Disney characters was created and marketed for pest control in children’s bedrooms. Like parents today, families who used this product were doing their best to protect their kids and trusting that products were safe. We know now that DDT is highly toxic, and it has been banned in the US for many years. Yet many other dangerous chemicals still exist. Aggressive marketing, lax regulations, and our desire for quick results have led to a glut of pesticide products on the market. But a growing body of evidence suggests that insecticides can have devastating effects on children’s health.

Source: toxipedia.com

We can’t eradicate toxins from our environment completely, but we can take steps to eliminate many of them from our homes. I’m tossing out my conventional bug sprays and I’m going to give boric acid a shot this summer. I’m also planning to fill those cracks that I’ve been meaning to get around to since we moved in. I understand why bug sprays are popular. But the risks to my family are just not worth the benefits.       

Dry Cleaning Is Neither Clean Nor Dry...Discuss!

It's that time of year and I bet you've been going through your closet. Finding your turtlenecks and reindeer sweaters and that party dress you wore last year and threw in your closet? And you have a pile to wear, a pile for Goodwill, and a pile to send to the dry cleaners. But there's nothing dry or clean about most dry cleaning...

Source: International Trade Alliance

A Short (and Surprisingly Interesting) History of Dry Cleaning

• In a precursor to modern dry cleaning, the ancient Romans laundered woolen togas with ammonia derived from urine.
• In 1845, a French dye-works owner noticed a clean area on a tablecloth after a kerosene spill. He later made a business of cleaning clothes with chemical solvents and coined the term "dry cleaning" (though he spoke French so he actually called it "nettoyage a sec").
• Unfortunately, kerosene and other solvents like gasoline led to many fires and explosions. In the 1930s dry cleaners started using the colorless, non-flammable solvent called perchloroethylene (also known as tetrachloroethylene or "perc"). This solvent remains in wide use today and is the primary solvent in 85% of all dry cleaning operations.   

How Dry Cleaning Works

Dry cleaning is not actually dry. It gets its name because no water is used during the process. Instead, clothes are soaked and agitated in liquid solvents to remove dirt and stains from fabrics. A solvent is a substance capable of dissolving one or more other substances. The graphic below explains the process:

Source: Chatel cleaners

Other Exposures

Perc has many other applications beyond dry cleaning, including uses as metal cleaners/degreasers, water repellants, paint removers, polishes, lubricants, printing inks, and others. We are exposed to perc through inhalation of perc fumes in the air, contaminated drinking water, and by direct skin contact. 

The highest exposures are in workers employed in the dry cleaning or metal degreasing industries. People who live nearby these operations are also at a higher exposure risk. 

Cancer and Other Health Concerns

The Environmental Protection Agency and other groups classify perc as "likely to be carcinogenic to humans by all routes of exposure," meaning that it is likely to cause cancer.

In animal studies, the link between cancer and perc is clear. In the laboratory, mice and rats who inhaled or ingested perc had increased risk of liver cancer, kidney cancer, and leukemia. 

Studies in humans are more limited and most have focused on people who are regularly exposed to perc through jobs in the dry cleaning, aircraft maintenance, and chemical industries. Among these subjects, researchers found more cases of the following types of cancer:

• Esophageal cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Lymphoma

Other research has looked at whether contaminated water poses an increased risk of cancer. Several studies were conducted after illegal disposals by companies in Woburn, Massachusetts in 1979 resulted in drinking water with perc levels that were hundreds of times greater than safe standards. (If this scenario sounds familiar, it may be because the case was popularized in the 1998 film A Civil Action starring my childhood crush John Travolta.) 

Initial complaints from residents focused on an unusually high incidence of childhood leukemias in the area. Sure enough, research showed elevated risk of the following cancers:

• Leukemia
• Lung cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Multiple myeloma

Chronic (long-term) exposures to perc have also been associated with the following non-cancer illnesses:

• Neurological effects
• Cognitive, motor, and vision impairments
• Liver and kidney damage
• Decreased immunity
• Developmental disorders
• Reproductive problems such as menstrual disorders, altered sperm structures, and reduced fertility 
• Birth defects

Acute (short-term) inhalation exposures can also result in health problems including:

• Irritation of upper respiratory tract and eyes
• Kidney dysfunction
• Neurological effects 
• Dizziness, sleepiness, headache
• Lack of coordination

So, Does Wearing Dry-Cleaned Clothes Pose a Risk?

The EPA "does not believe that wearing clothes cleaned with perc pose a risk of concern." That being said, there is not much research or information one way or another and no standards exist for safe levels of residual chemicals in clothes. 

Believe it or not, until a high school student took it on as a science class project in 2011, nobody had ever even evaluated how much perc remains in dry cleaned clothes. Results from that study (done in conjunction with Georgetown University) showed that dry cleaning chemicals build up in fabrics with repeated cleanings: wool absorbs the most, cotton and polyester levels level off after a few cleanings, and silk absorbs very little. Based on these results, researchers also calculated that dry cleaned clothes left in a car for an hour might result in unsafe perc levels. Public health experts agree that more research is needed regarding how much these residual levels of perc may be absorbed into the skin or inhaled through the air.

Regulations 

In addition to health effects, the release of perc into the air and water also has detrimental effects on the environment. Perc contributes to air pollution and contaminates water and soil. It is estimated that three quarters of dry cleaners have contaminated water and soil where they are located. In addition, the perc dry cleaning process produces a lot of hazardous waste. 

All of these issues have forced the EPA to enact stricter regulations on the dry cleaning industry. In 2006, the EPA ruled that individual dry cleaners must have tighter emissions controls and perc use in residential building must be phased out by 2020. Additionally, California is totally phasing out perc and its use will be illegal after 2023. Illinois is looking at similar regulations, and Massachusetts and New Jersey provide incentives for dry cleaning operations to switch to more environmentally friendly options. 

Green(ish) Cleaning Options

There are a number of so-called organic dry cleaning alternatives out there, but don't believe everything you read. Many still use solvents that are toxic to health and environment. Expert opinions point to wet cleaning and carbon dioxide dry cleaning as the safest methods (if you can find them and afford them). The chart below from the Occupational and Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides a good overview.

Source: osha.gov

What You Can Do

I get very few things dry cleaned because I'm cheap and I hate the chemical smell and I try to buy clothes that don't require it (and I'm in grad school so my suits have been in the back of the closet for a few years). I don't think that occasional dry cleaning is going to kill anybody, but when I consider the repeating theme of low-level chemical exposures and health risks like cancer, I'm concerned that all these small exposures from multiple sources add up to a significant body burden. Nobody can escape the toxins, but we can all make small changes to our immediate surroundings. Here are some suggestions to minimize your exposure to toxic dry cleaning chemicals:

• Only dry-clean clothes that absolutely need it, and try not to do it too often (remember that chemical residues build up in some fabrics).
• Don't live near a dry cleaning facility! (Really...in college my mom would not let me even look at an apartment that was above a dry cleaner. Once again, she was right.)
• Roll down your car windows if you have freshly dry cleaned clothes in your car.
• Pick up your dry cleaning when you don't have kids in the car.
• Remove the plastic bag and air out your clothes in a well-ventilated area (preferably outside) before storing or wearing. 

Sort of...

Ban Triclosan!

My five year old likes to taunt me sometimes by telling me that he used hand sanitizer at school. I'm certain there are worse forms of rebellion in his future so I don't react much. But the truth is that hand sanitizer, which often includes the active ingredient triclosan, is pretty nasty stuff.

In addition to hand sanitizers, the antibacterial and antifungal ingredient triclosan can be found in many soaps, deodorants, mouthwash, toothpaste, and other products. But Google triclosan, and you're likely to find just as many articles about the dangers as you do about the products. Oh, and the other thing? If you're washing your hands or body with a triclosan-containing cleanser, it doesn't even work any better than regular soap and water.

Personal care products containing triclosan
Source: Beyond Pesticides

Triclosan History

Triclosan (also called triclocarban) is a synthetic antbacterial and antifungal pesticide that has been around since 1969, and was first used in hospital settings in the 1970s. For those of you with a chemistry background, it's a chlorinated aromatic compound with functional groups of phenols and ethers. Triclosan is fat-soluble and can easily cross cell membranes. Once inside the cell, triclosan poisons a specific enzyme that many bacteria and fungi need for survival.

In addition to its uses in personal care items, triclosan is also used in institutional and industrial equipment applications where it is incorporated into conveyor belts, fire hoses, dye bath vats, ice-making equipment, and HVAC coils.

Triclosan is also used as a preservative in many products including adhesives, fabrics, vinyl, plastics, toys, toothbrushes, floor wax, footwear, clothing, sealants, carpeting, and many others.

Triclosan 101

• Typical triclosan concentrations in personal care products are 0.15 to 0.3%. Most triclosan is absorbed into the human body through the skin and lining of the mouth.
• Worried about cold and flu season? Keep in mind that those are usually caused by viruses; triclosan is an antibacterial and has no effect on viral illnesses.
• 75% of humans have triclosan in their bodies; it is found in human blood, urine, and breast milk. People who use it in personal care products have higher levels. 

Human Health Effects

• Allergies: killing "good" bacteria can open the door to the development of allergies. This finding is tied to the broader "Hygiene hypothesis," which purports that early childhood exposure to common pathogens is essential in building healthy immune responses. Lack of such exposure, according to the theory, can lead to an overactive immune system that misfires against harmless substances such as food proteins, pollen or pet dander. Killing bacteria with synthetic pesticides such as triclosan may disrupt the delicate balance between good and bad bacteria and lead to dysregulation of the immune system.
• Asthma: triclosan may make asthmatics even more sensitive to environmental allergens.
• Hormone disruption: animal studies show that these chemicals can interfere with hormones critical for normal development and function of the brain and reproductive system. Triclosan has also been associated with lower levels of thyroid hormone and testosterone, which could result in altered behavior, learning disabilities, or infertility. Triclocarban has been shown to artificially amplify the effects of sex hormones such as estrogen and testosterone, which could promote the growth of breast and prostate cancer.
• Cancer: animal studies show a possible relationship between triclosan and breast cancer and liver cancer. This great overview discusses the evidence and makes the point that research into triclosan's potential to cause cancer in humans is needed.

• Antibiotic resistance: some studies have reported that the use of triclosan contributes to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics. This is because antibacterial products do not kill all bacteria and germs they come into contact with; the strongest survive, mutate, and become more and more resistant to treatment. 

Who Regulates Triclosan?

• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates triclosan-containing products if they will be used on the human body. Products are considered to be drugs if they make a health claim such as "kills germs;" if they make a claim like "improves skin" they are considered to be cosmetics.

• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates other products like bathroom cleaners.  

In light of questions raised by recent animal studies of triclosan, both agencies are reviewing evidence of this ingredient's safety in consumer products. In December 2013, the FDA issued a news release stating that manufacturers of triclosan-containing personal care products must provide data showing safety and efficacy if they want the products to stay on the market. (For a great overview of the inadequacies of the regulatory process, read this article from Bloomberg.) 

In the meantime, the official regulatory stance is that "triclosan is not known to be hazardous to humans (and) FDA does not have sufficient safety evidence to recommend changing consumer use of products that contain triclosan at this time." 

Still, some companies, like Proctor and Gamble, are banning triclosan from its personal care products. Others like Colgate Palmolive (makers of Colgate Total, the only toothpaste with triclosan and the topic of much debate) maintain that the benefits outweigh any potential risks, and that the research is inconclusive. 

And for my friends in Minnesota, triclosan will be banned in 2017!

Here's a great timeline...you can also see it here.

Source: Bloomberg

What You Can Do...

• Well your mom was right...wash your hands. Here's a quote directly from the FDA: 

"At this time, FDA does not have evidence that triclosan added to antibacterial soaps and body washes provides extra health benefits over soap and water. Consumers concerned about using hand and body soaps with triclosan should wash with regular soap and water."

• Read the labels: Triclosan is also called Microban, Irgasan, Lexol, Ster-Zac, Cloxifenolum, and Biofresh. 

• Avoid products that say "antibacterial" or "antimicrobial"

• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers if you do not have access to soap and running water (but be careful your little ones don't drink it or lick it!).

Air Fresheners: The Sweet Smell of Phthalates

Ahhh...island breeze, fresh waters, cranberry pear bellini. No, I'm not on vacation. Just taking a look at some air fresheners.

I've had pets for most of my life (two dogs and two cats at the moment) and I used to use plug-in and other types of air fresheners sometimes to combat animal odors. But when I was pregnant with my son, I went cold turkey on a lot of household chemicals and this was one of them. 

So how safe are these products? The answer might surprise you.

Source: thetravelingpraters.com

Types of Air Fresheners

The fragrance industry is big business in the United States, with sales estimated to reach $2.4 billion in 2014. Approximately 75% of American households use air fresheners. 

There are many different types of air fresheners on the market today. One thing they all have in common? Lots of chemicals...

• Continuous release (outlet and battery-operated) air fresheners
• Sprays
• Reed diffusers
• Hanging car air fresheners
• Solid gel dispensers
• Scented candles
• Incense

What's in These Things Anyway?

Good question! Unfortunately, there are no standards or regulations governing the ingredients in air fresheners. The makers of air fresheners aren't required to list their ingredients on their packages or on the material safety data sheets.

As you might imagine, ingredients vary depending on the product type. But according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are four basic ingredients in air fresheners:

• Formaldehyde
• Petroleum distillates
• P-Dichlorobenzene
• Aerosol propellants

Here's a picture of the back of a Febreze Air freshener (link here). Sure enough, no ingredient list (nothing on the front either).

Source: soap.com

Independent Study: Phthalates

In 2007, the National Resources Defense Fund (NRDC), a non-profit environmental action group, conducted a study of air fresheners to determine which ingredients are present. The most concerning finding was the presence of phthalates (pronounced thal-ates).

Phthalates are used in many different products including cosmetics, scented items, vinyl items, furniture, and medical supply items. In air fresheners, phthalates are used to dissolve and carry the smell of the fragrance. Phthalates have been linked with the following health issues:

• Animal studies link prenatal exposure to decreased testosterone, reduced sperm production, and malformed genitalia.

• Human studies show changes in hormone levels, poor semen quality, and changes in genital development.

• Indoor phthalate exposure is also linked with allergies and asthma.

In the study, the NRDC tested 14 commonly used air fresheners and found that 12 of 14 (86%) contained phthalates. Here's the breakdown:

Source: NRDC

Other Chemicals

While the NRDC study focused on phthalates, other dangerous chemicals are also lurking in air fresheners. 

A 2005 European Consumers Union study found ingredients such as benzene, toluene, styrene, and formaldehyde in air fresheners; these have been linked with various health problems including cancers of the upper airways, leukemia, neurotoxicity, headache, and nausea (to name just a few). 

Research out of Berkeley in 2006 that looked at air fresheners and other cleaning products found potentially dangerous levels of terpenes and ethylene-based glycols. Ethylene-based glycols are classified as hazardous air pollutants by the EPA. Terpenes are not dangerous on their own but react with ozone to produce toxic compounds such as formaldehyde, which is also classified as a carcinogen. The authors present several real life examples, including this one about using an air freshener in a bedroom:

"Air freshener and ozone in a child's bedroom. This scenario could occur when people use both air fresheners and ozone-generating devices simultaneously in a room. This could lead to exposures to formaldehyde that are 25 percent higher than California's guideline value. Because other sources of formaldehyde could also be present in the room, exposure to formaldehyde would probably be even higher, the report states."   

A 2006 study detected the presence of a volatile organic compound (VOC), called 1,4 dichlorobenzene (1,4 DCB) in many air fresheners linked it to modest reductions in lung function.

In two national studies, approximately 20% of the U.S. population, and 40% of asthmatics, report headaches, breathing difficulties, or other health problems when exposed to air fresheners or deodorizers. 

Regulations and Research

Chemicals from air fresheners get into the body by inhalation, absorption, or accidental ingestion. The NRDC explains that there is no simple way to know how many of these toxins get into our bodies, or how much might pose a health hazard. Furthermore, the lack of listed ingredients and misleading claims of "natural" or "non-toxic" on some products make it difficult for consumers to evaluate the safety of products. Here's what the NRDC has to say about the difficulties of ascertaining just how dangerous these products might be:

Source: NRDC

In 2008, the NRDC called for a ban of phthalates but this was rejected by both the EPA and the consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), citing insufficient evidence. However, the EPA did ask the seven largest companies to voluntarily submit product ingredients, concentrations, and other information (most companies have not). 

One thing just about everyone agrees on? More research is needed.

What You Can Do: Alternatives to Air Fresheners

• Open a window! (But you probably already knew that one.)

• Choose soy or beeswax candles scented with essential oils (most others release benzene and toluene)

• This website suggests using vodka as an air freshener and coffee grounds or kitty litter for absorbing odor.

• There are a lot a lot of things you can do to freshen your air using essential oils.

• You can also use baking soda and vinegar for many stinky things around the house!

• Simmer cinnamon, cloves, or other natural spices on the stove.

• Don't be fooled by misleading product labels! Even some products labeled "all natural" contain phthalates.